SENATOR FEINGOLD'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KANTATHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 001215 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, EAP/MLS, PRM, H PACOM FOR FPA (HUSO) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2015 TAGS: PGOV PREL TH BURMA LAOS US FTA ASEAN IRAQ SUBJECT: SENATOR FEINGOLD'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KANTATHI Classified By: Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce. Reason 1.4 (b) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a February 20 meeting with Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI),Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon discussed the ongoing violence in southern Thailand; ASEAN; the U.S.-Thai FTA; China; and perceptions of the U.S. Senator Feingold emphasized the strong nature of the U.S.-Thai relationship and thanked the Thai government for cooperation following the 2004 tsunami and for Thai assistance in relocating Hmong refugees to the U.S. However, he expressed concern over the case of 27 Hmong children and Thailand's Burma policy. END SUMMARY VISIT HIGHLIGHTS STRONG BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) On February 20, Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI) and Ambassador Boyce called on Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon. Senator Feingold praised the deep relationship between the U.S. and Thailand, and thanked the Foreign Minister for past Thai contributions to Afghanistan and Iraq. He noted that the large ethnic Hmong population in Wisconsin gave him a special connection to the region. Kantathi agreed that joint Thai-U.S. assistance to the region following the December 2004 tsunami demonstrated the multi-dimensional nature of the U.S.-Thai relationship. That relationship had been positively reaffirmed during Prime Minister Thaksin's meeting with the President in September ¶2005. SOUTHERN SITUATION REMAINS A DOMESTIC ISSUE -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Senator Feingold asked the Foreign Minister for his assessment of the current situation in far southern Thailand. Kantathi noted that five percent of the Thai population was Muslim and -- with the exception of the Muslims in the three provinces along the Malaysian border -- were well integrated into Thai society. He repeatedly emphasized that the problem in the South was a domestic issue and that there was no link to international terrorists. While some of the violence was being carried out by separatists insurgents, many attacks were being carried out by narcotics traffickers or other criminal gangs who were using the insurgency as cover. ¶4. (SBU) Kantathi said the RTG was trying to address the violence by arresting and prosecuting identifiable insurgents while simultaneously working to counter separatist propaganda. He expressed concern that separatists were cynically using religion to manipulate Muslim youth. To counter this propaganda, the RTG was expanding programs that emphasize moderate Islam and was focusing on educational reforms that emphasize job skills. "The goal is to make the South a place where Buddhists and Muslims can live together peacefully." Many ethnic Malays in the South "feel more Malaysian than Thai." Relations with Malaysia had been strained due to the violence and the flight of 131 Thais to Malaysian territory in 2005, but were improving. Thailand was reaching out to Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Middle Eastern countries, to bring moderate voices of Islam to the region. The recent visit of Jordan's King Abdullah was part of that effort. ¶5. (SBU) Responding to the Senator's inquiries as to the progress of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), Kantathi said the government was working with the NRC, but cautioned that they would "wait to see if the commission's goals matched up to the government's." The Senator expressed concern over reports of extrajudicial killings. Kantathi acknowledged that there had been instances where individual local police and soldiers had used unnecessary violence -- citing the Krue Se Mosque incident of April 2004 as an example. The government was working to rein in these rogue elements while maintaining law and order in the region. HMONG REFUGEES - CONCERN OVER 27 CHILDREN -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Senator Feingold thanked the RTG for previous cooperation in the resettlement of Lao Hmong refugees from Thailand to the U.S., but expressed concern over the 27 Hmong children who had been separated from the families in Thailand and returned to Laos. Kantathi said they were working closely with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavat on the issue of the 27 children. The Lao were very sensitive about the issue and Somsavat was personally "upset" over the U.S. handling of the children. Kantathi insisted that the children would be brought back to Thailand as "a temporary measure." He was concerned that the children and other resettlement efforts were acting as a "pull-factor" that was encouraging illegal immigration into Thailand. Senator Feingold and the Foreign Minister agreed that continued cooperation and a common message from the RTG and USG were important to resolve this issue. BURMA - CONCERN OVER LACK OF PROGRESS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Senator Feingold expressed concern over the situation in Burma -- particularly the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi -- noting it was an issue that united the U.S. Congress. Kantathi said that Prime Minister Thaksin and other ASEAN leaders had been critical of the Burmese regime's lack of progress during the recent ASEAN summit and had agreed that a Malaysian delegation would go to Burma to check on national reconciliation efforts. Originally the visit had been scheduled for January, however, the Burmese had postponed the visit. Kantathi assured the Senator that he was working hard to communicate the dissatisfaction of the international community to the Burmese regime and would continue to use their "open channel" to the Burmese senior leadership. ASEAN - MOVING FORWARD -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Turning to ASEAN, Kantathi said the Enhanced Partnership with the U.S. was at the forefront of Thai ASEAN policy. Kantathi said the ASEAN Foreign Minister's meeting with Secretary Rice in New York had been very productive. ASEAN had committed itself to the creation of an ASEAN Community by 2015, instead of 2020, and were proceeding with ASEAN Free Trade zone. FTA - NO MOVEMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Senator Feingold cautioned Kantathi over the lack of forward progress on the FTA, noting that many Members of congress had reservations about free trade agreements (and will have more difficulty supporting an FTA in an election season). Kantathi agreed that both sides were interested in a "fair" agreement. CHINA - A COMPETITOR AND PARTNER -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Kantathi described China as both a potential competitor as well as a partner. The Thais believe that China was taking a peaceful approach to the region and that the Thai-China relationship was "healthy." Thailand understood that China would continue to grow more economically powerful, but believed a resurgent China was not a security threat. PERCEPTION OF THE U.S. - IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶11. (SBU) Feingold asked Kantathi how the U.S. was perceived in the region. Kantathi said that overall the U.S. had a positive image in Thailand, however, the Thai people had mixed feelings about U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some supported decisive U.S. action, while others were concerned that the actions are helping Al-Qaeda recruitment efforts. The RTG was particularly concerned over the situation in Iraq. "We don't see a light at the end of the tunnel." The Thai government would continue to work with the U.S., but a future deployment of Thai troops to the Iraq or Afghanistan was out of the question due to sensitivities over the situation in southern Thailand. ¶12. (U) Senator Feingold's office cleared this message. BOYCE